plate no. 4488

Deer at Lake McDonald

Charles M. Russell, 1908

oilRomanticismanimal paintingmountainslakedeertreesrockssky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and capturing reflections in water. It also provides practice in rendering realistic animal forms and rocky textures.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the mountains, lake, shoreline, and deer.
step 02
Establish the sky with soft, blended colors, capturing the sunset hues.
step 03
Block in the distant mountains and the large hill on the right, focusing on value differences.
step 04
Paint the lake, paying attention to the reflections of the sky and mountains.
step 05
Add details to the shoreline, including rocks, logs, and vegetation.
step 06
Carefully render the deer, paying attention to their anatomy and fur texture.
step 07
Refine the details in the foreground, adding highlights and shadows to the rocks and vegetation.
step 08
Add final touches and glazes to unify the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · sap green · raw sienna

Achieve the sunset colors by mixing cadmium red, yellow ochre, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for the darker tones in the mountains and lake. Mix sap green with yellow ochre and burnt umber for natural greens.

techniques